'I'm not in Bollywood to show my face'

Bollywood actor Sandhya Mridul is keen to star in actor-driven projects and blames good friend arshad warsi for pushing her tou00a0act inu00a0more commercial films

There's something about Sandhya Mridul. Whether as the adventurous air hostess in Page 3 or the sensible elder sister in Saathiya, she lights up the screen with her fiery presence. FYI caught up with the actor to ask her why she's been missing from the Bollywood scene lately.

Are you being over-choosy about your films?
I'm in Bollywood not to show my face, but to act. We don't make an Erin Brockovich in India, do we? When actor-oriented scripts are written, that's when you will get to see more of me. This year, I have Plot with Ranvir Shorey, Arshad Warsi's comedy Kaun Bola, and a dark film called Gulaab Gang, so you won't have reason to complain.

But haven't you been part of terribly bad flicks like Mr White and Mr Black?
You can blame that on my good friend Arshad Warsi, who forces me to do commercial cinema. He keeps asking me, "Yeh art film kya hoti hai?"

What about a film like Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd, where you shared screen space with 12 other actors?
I did Honeymoon Travels because I got to share screen space with Shabana Azmi. I always tell her that she has seen the golden era of Hindi cinema, when one got the chance to do a commercial film like Amar Akbar Antony as well as one like Arth.

What is your reaction to the My Name Is Khan (MNIK) controversy?
It's a shame to Indian democracy. India is my country, and I don't need to carry a visa to visit any state or work there. SRK has always been popular, but by taking a strong stand on this issue, he has also gained people's respect.